Lead singer Gord Downie was recently diagnosed with brain cancer so the show was nearly certainly the very last, opportunity for Canadians to see the group live.
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While the band was careful not to declare that its now-concluded 15-show tour would be its last, the concert had an aura that was both celebratory and somber. Thomas asked. “When Gord (Downie) talked about the history of First Nations people and said Trudeau’s gotta move forward, I was really grateful for that”.
Downie, who wore a metallic silver suit and hat with a Jaws T-shirt underneath, hugged and kissed his bandmates before they stepped on stage to open with 50 Mission Cap, followed by three other songs from the album Fully Completely.
At that concert, Downie said, “It’s good to be on traditional Musqueam territory again” from the stage.
Tickets for Saturday’s show went for upwards of US$1,000 (S$1,300) on ticket reseller StubHub last Friday.
This sweet gesture by Canada’s PM was well appreciated but it was the night for Gord Downie and his courage and performance stole people’s heart. Even if you are not a Hip fan, you can still respect them and what they accomplished as a band for over 30 years.
“We were all informed of some sad news that he had a really tough form of brain cancer”, Vedder continued.
“There’s something going on north of the border tonight and it involves somebody that we consider a family member just cause they’re part of a group of touring musicians we’ve met over the years”, he told the audience in videos captured by fans and posted to social media sites.
Kingston – the home town of Gordon Edgar “Gord” Downie, whose announcement in May that he had terminal brain cancer had caused shock across the nation.
Before performing one song, Downie seemed to reference the outpouring of support from fans since his diagnosis.
Thank you to The Hip, for the beauty of your songs and the many memories they created.
September 30, 2012: “The Hip sets up shop at Kensington Market haunt Supermarket for four days” worth of shows to promote its 13th album, Now For Plan A.
Bobcaygeon shut down its main street to screen the final stop of the Hip’s tour. A slew of singles became radio fixtures, while the band’s 14 albums nabbed numerous awards.
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With a sold out concert and live streams around the country (and world), in everything from living rooms to auditoriums, it’s tough to tell exactly how many people tuned in to the concert. Viewing parties are planned across the country and amongst pockets of Canadian expats overseas.
